Automatic gate for flushing sewers



No. 6I4,675. Patented Nov. 22, |898. S. S. TILTUN.

AUTOMATIC GATE FOR FLUSHING SEWERS.

(Applieatian med Jan. 11, 1897,) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet L l'fl'l'lIl l' Il) Il No. 6|4,675 l Patented Nov. 22, |898.

s. s. T|LToN.

AUTOMATIC GATE FDR FLUSHING SEWEBS.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.) (N0 Model 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Nrrnn STATES STEPHEN S. TILTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOIVIATIC GATE FOR FLUSHING SEWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,675, dated November22, 1898.

Application filed January 1l, 1897.

Z'o @ZZ whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN S. TILTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco andv State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Gates for Flushing Sewers; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and eXact description of said invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearlyappertains to make, use,and practice the same.

Myinvention relates to that class of devices which are placed acrosssewers or flumes for holding back the water until a certain quantity isaccumulated and the desired pressure is obtained and then releasedinstantaneously through an automatic gate for the purpose of flushingaway all debris which may have settled at the bottom of the sewer.

The object of my invention is to produce a device which is simple inconstruction, effective in operation, and convenient in manipulation, soarranged that its movements are automatically controlled by the iiow ofwater passing through the sewer; and it consists, first, of a rotatinggate constructed in the shape of a fanning-wheel provided with asuitable frame mounted centrally upon a wooden frame placed across thesewer; secondly, of adjustable means by which both the wooden frame andthe frame of the rotating gate can be made water-tight; thirdly, toprovide adjustable means to stop and release the gate when desired.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an ordinary sewer broken away,showing a vertical section of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe sewer, taken from dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 1, showing a frontelevation of my device. Fig. 3 is a section taken from line 2 2 of Fig.l, showing particularly the construction of one of the mitering cornersof the wooden frame.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

A represents the sewer, within which the wooden frame of my inventionmay be placed across it at any point desired for the purpose of flushingaway all debris deposited therein.

Serial 'No` 618,879. (No model.)

This frame consists of two vertical side pieces B,whicl1 maybeconveniently called wings,77 hinging to a lower cross-piece C, asparticularly shown in Fig. 3, and Ct are bolts by which the miteringends of the wings and the crosspiece are secured together and renderedwater-tight. The wings and the cross-piece are cut to fit the innercurve of the sewer and arearranged in such a manner as to form a centralsquare aperture, within which my device rotates.

Between the outer edge of the wings and the crosspiece and the innerwall of the sewer a rubber strip b (or other elastic material may beused, if desired) is preferably placed within a depression or groove cutupon the wings and the cross-piece and project outwardly to form aiieXible joint for the purpose of rendering that part of the woodenframe and the inner wall of the sewer watertight. This feature isplainly shown in the drawings. In Fig. 2 a port-ion is broken away toshow the rubber placed into the depression.

The inner upper end of the wings are cut inwardly to provide suitableshoulders for the toggle-joint D, which stands centrally above thesquare aperture previously described, and in a line above the wings andthe toggle-joint is a beam E, rigidly secured across the sewer.

Between the beam and the upper ends of the wings just described I placewedges c for the purpose of forcing the wings downwardly, while wedgesd, placed between the togglejoint and the beam, force them sidewiseuntil the joint between the win gs B and the cross-piece C and the innerwall of the sewer become perfectly water-tight.

The cross-bars F are removably secured upon the upper sides of the wingsby means of brackets e and serve to keep the wooden frame in positionand likewise the togglejoint in proper place. AThe beamE is alsoprovided withguiding-plate G for the purpose of keeping the wedges d inposition.

'The various wedges, as shown in the drawings, are provided with theusual groove and sliding rib f between their mitering edges to preventthem from shift-ing away while forcing them toward each other. j

The frame H is mounted upon the front elevation of the wings B and thecross-piece ICO C and may be secured in any suitable manner; but Iprefer to carry out this feature as shown in the drawings, where it'will be seen that the frame is provided with outwardlyprojecting carshaving notches g, through which bolt h, rigidly secured to the wings andthe cross-piece, passes. These bolts are provided with a knuckle-joint,so that they can be quickly removed from the frame, and the thumb nutst' serve to tighten the frame against the wings and the cross-piece. Thebearing-faces of this frame are provided with suitable packing j, sothat a water-tight joint can be obtained.

Suitably mounted within the frame II is the rotating gate I, which,acting as a dam, controls the iiow of water passing through the sewer.This gate is preferably constructed in the shape of a fanning-wheel withfour rectangular blades.

Rigidly secured across the sewer and back of the gate is a beam J, uponwhich the angular plate K is ad justably secured crosswise by means ofdouble-ended sliding bolt Zt'.

Pivoted to the forward end of the angular plate just described is leverZ, which serves as a stopper for the rotating gate and controls itsmovements, while lever m is pivoted to the rear end of the angular plateand is adapted to force downward the rear end of lever Z for the purposeof releasing the gate I when desired.

The rear end of lever lm. is provided with an adjustable iioat, whichconsists of ball L, provided with stem n., having a screw-threadedportion for the purpose of adjusting the same.

The guiding-pin o, secured to the angular plate K, prevents the lever Zfrom going beyond its intended position.

The operation of my invention may be described as follows: N'Vhen allthe various parts of my invention are placed in position within thesewer across the water-course and the dierent screws and wedges forcedwithin their respective places until the structure becomes water-tight,the rotating gate I is then held rigid in position by means of lever Z,thus forming a dam to that portion of the sewer. The course of the waterbeing stopped, the same will naturally dam up against the gate and causethe float secured at the rear end of lever m to rise with it, thusforcing the forward end of the lever to press down-4 ward upon the rearend of the lever Z and cause thereby its forward end to swing upward,thus releasing the gate I. The gate being free from any obstruction, thepressure beyond forces the same to rotate, thus allowing a large volumeof water to pass instantaneously through the central aperture of thewooden frame and removes by its natural force any debris which may besettled at the bottom of the sewer within the vicinity of my device. Assoon as the water depresses the float, with lever m, will naturally dropdownward and release thereby 1e ver Z. The forward end of this leverbeing heavier beyond its pivotal center will drop also downwardly to itsnormal position and slide upon the projections p of the other bladeswhile the gate is being rotated until the former blade is reached. Thusthe apparatus is ready for similar operation.

Believing l have produced a valuable improvement in automatic gate foriiushing sewers and having described the same,wl1at I claim, and desireto secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device for flushing sewers, a gate having four rectangularblades and means for automatically controlling said gate, substantiallyas set forth, and for the purpose described.

2. In a device for flushing sewers, a rotating gate adapted to stop andrelease the ilow of water and automatic means to control the movementsof said gate, substantially as set forth, and for the purpose described.

3. In a device for flushing sewers, a rotat ing gate provided withblades adapted to stop automatically the flow of water, and means tocontrol its movements consisting of suitable levers, and means tosupport said levers, an adjustable float suitably secured to one of thelevers, substantially as set forth and for the purpose described.

4. A device for iiushing sewers provided with an adjustable water-tightframe, a rotating gate suitably mounted upon said frame and means forautomatically releasing and stopping said gate, substantially as setforth and for the purpose described.

5. An automatic device for flushing sewers, provided with an adjustablewater tight frame, a rotating gate mounted upon said frame, and means tocontrol its movements, consisting of levers Z and m suitably secured tothe inner wall of the sewers, in combination with an adjustable floatadapted to work up or down, substantially as set forth and for thepurpose described.

G. In a device for flushing sewers, provided with water-tightframe,rotatin g gate mounted upon said frame, and means to control theaction of said gate, consisting of an adjustable float, -provided with alever suitably secured to said gate, substantially as set forth, and forthe purpose described.

7. In an automatic device for iiushing sewers, a water-tight frameconsisting of wings B B and cross-piece C hinging together, incombination with the described means to force downwardly and sidewisesaid frame consisting of beam E and wedges c c all of which is arrangedand constructed to operate in the manner as set forth.

S. In a device for iiushing sewers, a rotating gate provided with awater-tight frame consisting of wings B, cross-piece C, provided withmeans for straightening said frame, consisting of cross-bars F suitablysecured to the frame, substantially as set forth, and for the purposedescribed.

9. In a device for automatically iiushing I sewers, a water-tight frameprovided with 1l. In a device for ushing sewers provided with awater-tight structure, a frame mounted upon said structure, providedWith outwardly projecting ears having notches out thereon and adapted toreceive bolt and a gate mounted upon said frame, substantially as setforth, and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of January,1897.

STEPHEN S. TILTON;

In presence of- O. A. SHREEDER, R. L. NOUGARET.

